short bio​

I’m an architect and urban policy researcher who seeks to understand the city by looking closely at its everyday rhythms and dynamics. My work centers on public spaces, spatial justice, and civic participation, bridging research, design, and policy-making through an interdisciplinary approach.

Currently, I contribute to upper-scale planning processes at the Istanbul Planning Agency, focusing on housing planning, the right to housing, and urban transformation within the scope of Istanbul Plan 2050. Concurrently, I serve as the Editorial Coordinator of IPA Istanbul Magazine, a journal devoted to urban research and critical thought, where I work to foster a pluralistic and reflective platform for dialogue on Istanbul and urban studies.

In the civil sphere, I am a co-founder of Lokal: Research and Design Studio, a collective developing spatial approaches centered on public benefit and co-existence, with the aim of contributing to more inclusive, participatory, and just urban futures.

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professional profile

› Urban Policy Expert at Istanbul Planning Agency, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, (ongoing)

› Editorial Coordinator of İPA İstanbul Magazine (ongoing)

› Co-Founder of Lokal:Araştırma ve Tasarım İşliği (ongoing)

› Editor of XXI Architecture and Design Magazine

› Assistant Lecturer in Urban Social Movements, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Faculty of Architecture, Urban Planning Graduate Program

› UI/UX Designer at ItsMee Mobile App

› Intern, PIN Architecture

› Intern, LOT Studio

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academic experience

› Transformation of Industrial and Labor Geography in Beykoz and Sarıyer Gecekondu Neighborhoods, Research Project, MSFAU, 2017-ongoing

› Socio-Spatial History and Current Social Dynamics of Bozcaada, Fieldworker, Research Project, MSFAU, 2019

› Urban Social Movements in İstanbul, Research Project, MSFAU, 2018-2019

› Gecekondu as a Spatial Experiment Case of Kazım Karabekir Paşa Neighborhood, MSFAU, 2017

› Urban Tissue Patterns in Ayvalık Port City in the Context of Memory Continuity, Fieldworker, Research Project, MSFAU, 2017

› Guest Jury Member, Sakarya University, School of Architecture, Sakarya, 2018-2019

› Guest Jury Member, İstanbul Kemerburgaz University, School of Architecture, Istanbul, 2018-2019 

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education

› MSc. Urban Design, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, School of Architecture, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Istanbul, 2018

Thesis: Temporary, Variable Public Spaces Which are Established by Everyday Intrusive Actions: District Markets.

› BSc. Architecture, Istanbul Kemerburgaz University, School of Architecture, Istanbul, 2016

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competitions + awards

› 2nd Prize of Turkey, Marmara Region 1st Prize, TUBITAK 2238 Entrepreneurship and Innovation Competition, ItsMee App, 2018, w/ team

› Semi Finalist, ITU Core, BIGBANG, 2017, w/ team

› Participant, S.O.S. İstanbul Idea Competition: Üsküdar Square, 2017, w/Aygen Erol

› Participant, Iller Bankası at Neighbourhood Design Ideas, 2017, w/ Buse Çiftçisertbaşı, Emre Seymenoğlu, Güneş Çavuş

› Jury Special Prize, 3rd Istanbul Design Biennial, Istanbul as a Palimpsest City and Endless Layers of Design, “Heterotopia”, 2016, w/Aygen Erol

› Movie Screening Prize, X. Istanbul International Architecture and Urban Film Festival, 2016, w/ Kemal Utku

› Equivalent Mention Prize, Çuhadaroğlu Aluminum Student Competition, “Başlangıç”, 2015, w/ Kemal Utku

› Participant, Maltepe Municipality Gülsuyu Cemevi Design Competition, 2015, w/ Batu Kepekçioğlu, Bora Özkuş, Aysel Yavuz

› Education Category Degree, Social Responsibility Project Competition, 2014, w/ Aykut Balıkcı, Zuhal Erşen

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exhibitions + talks

› Invited Speaker, Gündeliğin Zamanda Kurduğu Geçici Mekanlar: Semt Pazarları. Mekan ve İnsan, Medyascope, 2021

› Invited Speaker, Pandemide Bir Arada Olmak: Politik Eylemlilik, Dayanışma ve Mekansal Temsilleri. Mekan ve İnsan, Medyascope,2021

› Invited Speaker, Salgında Adalet ve Dünyada Yerel Yönetimler. Mekanda Adalet Derneği Akademi Buluşmaları, 2020

› Invited Speaker, Solidarity, Transference and Everyday Life Jointly by the Opposition, Alternative Approaches in Architectural Education, AURA İstanbul, 2019

› Invited Speaker, Towards Pluralist Urban Politics: New Urban Social Movements in Istanbul, Wednesday Seminars, MSFAU, 2019

› Special Session, Socio-Spatial Transformation of the Paşabahçe Labor' Basin After Factory Closures During the De-industrialization Process, 7th Urban and Regional Research Network (URRN) Symposium, 2020

› Invited Speaker, Solidarity, Transference and Everyday Life Jointly by the Opposition, AURA İstanbul, 2019

› Paper Presentation, World Urbanization Day 43rd Collocium, Chamber of City Planners, Ankara, 2019

› Invited Speaker, Towards Pluralist Urban Politics: New Urban Social Movements in Istanbul, Wednesday Seminars, MSFAU, 2019

› Invited Speaker, New Urban Social Movements in Istanbul, TMMOB Chamber of Architects, 2019

› Invited Speaker, Alternative Approaches in Architectural Education, AURA İstanbul, 2019

› Exhibitor, Dictionary of Everyday Life Experiences, TÜYAP Art Fair, w/ Başka Bir Atölye, 2018

› Invited Speaker, Alternative Situations in Public Spaces: District Markets, Kültür University, 2018

› Paper Presentation, Urban Social Movements in İstanbul, Urban Struggles in Mediterranean Cities: The Right to the City and the Common Space International UnConference, w/ Prof. Dr. Murat Cemal Yalçıntan, Betül İngin, 2018

› Exhibitor, "Octahedral" Digital Design and Production Methods Experiment, w/ Gökhan Uşma, Aslı Say, Kemal Utku, Berivan Danış, Hanife Akça, 2016

› Organization Manager, Surviving Between Pedagogy and Practice in Architectural Education Symposium, 2014

› Exhibitor, Under-Visible,  Intuitive Workshop Exhibition, Studio-X İstanbul, 2014

› Invited Speaker, Revitalization of the Seafront Strip Around Old Galata Bridge in İstanbul, 2nd Biennial of Architectural and Urban Restoration, 2013

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publications

› Ökdemir, E. S., & Gasseloğlu, M. A. (2022). Mimarlığın Yan Yolları: Kolektif Yaparak Öğrenme Süreçleri. Arredamento Mimarlık.

› Ökdemir, E. S. (2022). 2022 Pritzker Ödülü Kazananı Diébédo Francis Kéré: Yerelde, Yerelle Birlikte İnşa Etmek. Mimarlık Dergisi, 425(Mayıs - Haziran), 68–70.

› Ökdemir, E. S. (2021). Evden Öteye: Kamusallaşan Ev Mekânından Evcilleşen Kamusal Alana. İPA İstanbul Dergisi, 003, 6–9. 

› Ökdemir, E. S. (2021). Birlikte, Daha Güçlü: “Geceleri De, Meydanları Da, Sokakları Da Terk Etmiyoruz.” İPA İstanbul Dergisi, 002, 48–53.

› Ökdemir, E. S. (2020). Pandemide, Pandemiye Rağmen Bir Arada Olmak: Mekanda Ama Nasıl? XXI Architecture and Design Magazine.

› Gasseloğlu, M.A., Hamzaoğlu B., Ökdemir,E.S., Utku K., Yıldırım M. (2020). On Track of Space in Social Media: Spaceless-Space Archive. Mimarist, 68, (pp.21-28)

› Interview with director Ali Vatansever, Journey to Not Know, XXI Architecture and Design Magazine, 2019

› Ökdemir,E.S., Erol A. (2017), Heterotopia - İstanbul As a Palimpsest City and Endless City Layers of Design, in Aurum Design Notes (pp.105-106), İstanbul: Altınbaş Foundation, İstanbul Kemerburgaz University

› Ökdemir,E.S., Utku, K. (2017), Inception – Yassıada Nature Observatory Project, in Aurum Design Notes (pp.107-109), İstanbul: Altınbaş Foundation­­,İstanbul Kemerburgaz University                            

› Ökdemir,E.S., Utku K. (2016), Urban Footage Design Studio, Projection Cities, in X. Istanbul International Architecture and Urban Film Festival Booklet (s.58), İstanbul:TMMOB Chamber of Architects

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workshop tutor

›Tutor, Mekansız Mekan Arşivi,  City Dreams, TMMOB Chamber of Architects, 2019, w/ Kemal Utku, Mehmet Ali Gasseloğlu, Merve Yıldırım, Büşra Hamzaoğlu

›Tutor, Transgression, National Architecture Students Meeting, Mardin, 2018, w/ Mehmet Ali Gasseloğlu

›Tutor, Everyday Intrusive Actions: Eminönü, City Dreams, TMMOB Chamber of Architects, 2018, w/ Mehmet Ali Gasseloğlu, Merve Yıldırım, Bora Can Aksoy

›Tutor, Beri-ki Öte, Bademlik Design Festival, Eskişehir, 2018, w/Merve Yıldırım, Yusuf Bulut

›Tutor, Move[n]City II, Mediated City 4 International Conference, 2018, w/ Ayşegül Akçay, Derya Güleç Özer, Nilay Özlü, Çağda Özbaki, Kemal Utku, Ece Konuk, Aygün Aşık

›Tutor,  H-ile, National Interior Architecture Students Meeting, İstanbul, 2017, w/ Sıla Bıcı

›Tutor, -sız, National Architecture Students Meeting, Samsun, 2017, w/ Seçil Mungan, Mehmet Ali Gasseloğlu

›Tutor, Stretching Space: Invisible Borders, Düzce, 2017, w/Aygen Erol

›Tutor, ya-mamak, National Architecture Students Meeting, Ankara, 2017, w/ Merve Yıldırım, Yusuf Bulut

›Tutor, Depo16, National Architecture Students Meeting, İstanbul, 2016, w/ Sinem Görücü, Feyza Çınar

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workshop participant

› Participant, Betonart16, Adana, 2016, Tutor: Nilüfer Kozikoğlu, Mentor: Ozan Avcı

› Participant, Deformasyon Mimarlığı, Gaziantep, 2016, Tutor: Paradox Studio

› Participant, Leke-siz, Eskişehir, 2015, Tutor: Architecture for All Association

› Participant, Kentte Melez Red, Trabzon, 2014, Tutor: Gökçeçiçek Savaşır

› Participant, Cubehocholic, 2014, Tutor:  Ayşegül Akçay

› Participant, Intuitive vol.2, Studio X İstanbul, 2014, Tutor: Salih Küçüktuna, Emre Başoğlu, Deniz Manisalı Leba, Can Çinici

› Participant, Intuitive, Yıldız Technical University, 2014, Tutor: Salih Küçüktuna, Emre Başoğlu

› Participant, Public Spaces, City Dreams, TMMOB Chamber of Architects, 2013, Tutor: Kaya Dinçer, Serpil Muallaoğlu

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